Welcome to the #DragonFamily: Xiang Gao

Meet MSUM’s new Assistant Professor of Finance, Xiang Gao. He is excited to work with students.

Start date: August 26, 2019

Q: What drew you to MSUM?
A: I recognize that people are super nice and also this is a nice town. You probably think of Fargo and Moorhead as not a very vibrant area. But actually, I stayed in upper-New York state for five years. It was a very small town so I visited here I think is a metropolitan area. So, I love working here and living here and the interaction with all my nice colleagues.

Q: What is one thing that surprised you about MSUM?
A: I think it’s the mascot is lit. I saw the real fire from the dragon here. When I saw the pictures, I thought that those are just Photoshop works. But now I know, that is a real fire there so I was literally surprised.

Q: What energizes you at work?
A: I think I really enjoy contributing to my students and helping them succeed in their careers. I know that in our school we’re really focusing on life transformation. So, I feel excited to participate in that part of my students’ career. It’s making me very excited with my choice. 

Q: If you could trade places with someone for a day who would it be?
A: I might choose to take another professors’ job, I mean other than the finance field. For instance, Dr. Wooyang Kim is teaching marketing, and I have research work where there is actually an intersection between finance and marketing. So, I’m very interested in those subjects. Therefore, if possible, I might like to change, you know, changing my life for one day with other faculties to see other subjects.

Q: If you could choose a superpower, what would it be?
A: I want to know what would happen tomorrow, probably so I can win a lottery.

Welcome to the #DragonFamily, Xiang. We’re glad you’re here!